THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16263, 13 July 1918, Page 9

THE COMMONWEALTH.

FEDERAL COAL PURCHASE.

(By Cabl».—Pre« Association.—Copyright.)

MELBOURNE, July 12. The Federal Government is purchasing 150 ; 000 tons of coal in New South "Wales in order to relievo distress caused by dullness in the coal trade. CONCRETE SHIPS. jrELBOURNE, Juty 12. The Government is considering the offer of an American firm to build concrete ships in Australia. THE WIMMERA. MELBOURNE, July 12. The Controller of Shipping states that the owners of the Wimmera have no claim on the Government, as the ship waß not, requisitioned by the Commonwealth, arid was sunk outside Australian "waters.

(Received July 13th, 1.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, July 12

The Royal Shipwreck Society has voted a considerable sum of money to relieve the sufferers from the Wimmora disaster.

THE ABORIGINES

(Received July 12th, 9.40 p.m.)

SYDNEY, July 12. The report of the Aborigines Board shows that only 1665 full-blooded aborigines are left in New South Wales, on increase of 92 during the year. Halfbreeds total 6238, an increase of 1212. THE CANE CROP. (Received July 12th, 9.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 12. The Farmers' Conference decided that in the event of the cane-\rorkers pressing their demands, which the growers are opposing as exorbitant, to organise volunteer labour to cut .he cane crop on the northern rivers.

SOLDIERS AND LIQUOR,

(Received July 12th, 9.40 p.m.)

SYDNEY, July 12. The Rev. Mr Hammond, giving evidence before the Senate Committee of Enquiry on the drink question, stated that considerable numbers of men iroci inebriate homes were allowed to enlist aud were sent oversea. Sometimes after they had been discharged for drunkenness tbev re-enlisted several times. The bulk of them were sent back, Sir Hammond said, without having fired a shot, and became a charge as returned soldiers upon the public funds.

Mr Hammond also declared that a growing evil was absent soldiers' wi7es speijjlinc their husbands' pay in drink.